More of the same expected in the second half of 2017!

Colorado Springs' single-family housing market in the first half of 2017 looked a lot like it did last year: strong in some areas, red hot in others - but not without problems.

On the plus side, the pace of Springs-area home building in the first six months was on par with 2016, when construction soared to a 10-year high.

Existing homes, meanwhile, were being sold at a record clip in the first half and fetched record-high prices. And foreclosure activity continued its steady decline, which also signaled the housing market's recovery.

"It really just continues to go through the roof," Tatiana Bailey, director of the University of Colorado at Colorado Springs Economic Forum, said about single-family home sales and prices.

Follow link below to read the rest of this great article:

http://gazette.com/more-of-the-same-expected-in-the-second-half-of-2017-for-colorado-springs-hot-housing-market/article/1607646

American Lifestyle Magazine Issue 84, Volume 1

http://digital.remindermedia.com/donna-hatch/issue-84-vol-1/2/

Buyer in a Sellers’ Market: How to Stay Competitive

It’s no secret that much of the country is currently a sellers’ market, but how can you help your buyers stay strong in this competitive landscape? REALTOR Magazine online recently shared five tips for doing so, all of which are easy for you and your clients to adopt if you haven’t already.

Two tips, in particular,

stood out to us as key:

• “Identify home wants versus needs: Buyers likely will need to compromise on their wish lists when competition is tight. For example, buyers may have to compromise on amenities like stainless appliances or hardwood flooring, which can always be added later. ‘However, if a buyer wants to be in a specific school district or have a decent-sized backyard, those cannot be addressed later and must be taken into account during the house hunting process,’ according to NAR’s tip sheet for buyers.”
• “Make bids competitive: A low offer as a starting bid won’t likely work in a seller’s market. Buyers need to be ready to put forward their highest offer from the beginning or they may lose the home. In multiple bidding situations, the highest offer doesn’t always win either. But the bid with the fewest contingencies often becomes the most attractive to sellers. ‘Removing restrictions related to the sale of a current home and being flexible with things like the move-in date can make a bid stand out to a seller,’ NAR notes.” 

For more on this and any other questions, you may have- email me at dhatch@erashields.com

Home Renovation Projects with the Best ROI

Many people are interested to know what kind of return on investment they can expect when upgrading certain items in their homes and which items they should prioritize first. This is especially relevant when selling their home or investment property.

When it comes to house sales and particular rooms, the kitchen is often the room that will make or break a sale. Kitchen projects that are budgeted between 6-10 percent of the total home value will see the highest ROI. Putting your finances into kitchen upgrades is a worthwhile endeavor when it comes to optimizing your home for selling purposes.

The top five projects to prioritize when it comes to the best return on investments are: replacing the entry door, installing a new fireplace, remodeling the kitchen, converting the attic into a bedroom, and replacing the exterior siding or cladding.

For an illustrated look at the best projects to focus on when renovating your home, contact me at dhatch@erashields.com